I probably don’t need to explain why this question seems pertinent now. We have a pretty decent squad. It might even be the best squad we’ve ever had in my 34 years watching Leicester City. There does come a time, however, when you know some players just won’t ever take us further forward.
I actually consider myself to be a pretty patient supporter. I try my best not to react on the basis of just a few games but, right now, there are one or two I wouldn’t worry about if they disappeared in January or the end of the season:
1. Gray - I’ve long given up on him. I was actually surprised to see him on the bench against Palace. Probably going soon and there aren’t many highlights if we’re honest
2. Iheanacho - I’ve really wanted Ian to do well. He seems a decent guy and can occasionally show some clinical finishing every now and again. I’ve come to realise though that it probably isn’t going to happen in the long term. We need him at the moment with so few strikers, but I hope we find better at the end of the season
3. Slimani - I’ve always been in the minority in thinking that Islam S offers something. He can score and is a different option. Clearly not worth the bucks we’re paying him and his face clearly doesn’t fit. So whatever I think he’s off anyway
4. Perez - god he’s frustrating! He clearly has ability, but he also has the propensity to mess up in good positions. Offers something with his running, but is annoying as hell. Keep, for now, but hopefully only as a squad player
5. Amartey - Never liked him as a midfielder. Thought he was improving as a RB and wondered why nobody seemed to want to try him as a CB. Until now that is. I’m not ready to give up on big Dan yet and, like Ian, I really want him to do well as he seems like a decent sort
6. Hamza - He’s another one I’m not ready to give up on. I actually think he might be useful if he could work out what sort of midfielder he’s trying to be. He started off as a blocker, but I’m wondering if he should try and be more of a box to box midfielder. He’s got good energy and needs to have more confidence to drive forward and try and be a bit more dynamic. Not sure he’ll make it, but we shall see
There are others, of course, but these are the ones who don’t fall into the category of performers on the way down or emerging prospects. They’ve been here a while now and need to prove whether we should stick or twist
Which fringe players have you given up on?
posted on 29/12/20
Joby - wash your mouth out and promise never to mention the words 'Albrighton' and 'Right Back' in the same sentence again - as hard working and great defensively he is as a winger, he is useless in the back line.
So Amartey is behind Ricardo (who may of course leave), and Castagne/Justin (who may be needed at LB), so maybe there is a place at RB. We probably need 4 CBs too, so he's a good fit as no 4 in that list. Add in that he can cover as DM and there starts to be a strong case for retention. Is he happy being a bit player though, and can he keep fit are two pertinent questions?
I don't see Slim staying beyond his contract - when is that up by the way?
I've been waiting for Gray to become more of a team player, at nearly 25 I don't see him developing further so I expect him to be off soon. Having said which I was rather surprised to see him appear against Palace, so who knows?
Ian/Hamza/Perez - all have their faults, all can look great at times, I'd say it's too early to call for all of them. I feel a bit sorry for Ian in particular as he's living in an enormous shadow of the GOAT. His confidence is brittle to say the least, he started off well enough but almost visibly shrank when he realised the stupidity of snatching the ball for the peno and the enormity of potentially missing sank in. It could have been so different if Guaita had gone the other way and he'd scored despite the poorly taken spot kick.
posted on 29/12/20
The thing with Amartey is that you rarely get good players being happy to be back up. Amartey strike me as someone who is appreciative to the club for getting him through his injuries and as a result, would be willing to be that.
posted on 29/12/20
Nuneaton,
I think what I’m saying is that BR would probably revert to wing backs before Amartey would be used as RB, which means Albrighton.
Also, Slimani’s contract expires summer 2021 along with Gray’s.
posted on 29/12/20
What struck me about Amartey yesterday is that he seemed comfortable as a ball playing centreback. The amount of times he played out of danger impressed me.
What also impressed me was his passing out of defence. He often played a ball with just the right balance between risk and opportunity. He played a couple of excellent passes directly in to the middle of the midfield, and I was infuriated with Mendy and Choudhury when, rather than playing on the turn in to acres of space had zero awareness of what was around them and chose to play it straight back to Amartey who dealt with the trouble again!
It’s become clear to me Mendy is excellent under pressure but not so good at creating pressure. Ndidi is the absolute opposite.
Mendy for me should play against counter pressing teams only. Ndidi could be rested in these games.
posted on 29/12/20
Amartey is one of those players who looks good on the ball as a central defender, because there he only has to worry about what's in 180 degrees of him, threats that he can see. But he doesn't look so good on the ball as a central midfielder, where he has to worry about 360 degrees of threats and a consistently great first touch is a requirement. Much like Kisnorbo in the Championship.
I've thought for a long while that he should be playing centre back, particularly since he got into the AFCON team of the tournament a few years back playing there for Ghana. It's a mystery to me why he's never been played there in a two until now. Perhaps height is an issue, but I think it's his natural position.
posted on 29/12/20
“ It's a mystery to me why he's never been played there”
——/-////—
To many of us really.
He was never tried at CB under other managers and I remember the Puel regime categorically stating that RB was his best position.
Given this I expected him to look out of his depth when played there, but he’s looked ok - which just makes it all the stranger.
posted on 29/12/20
Sometimes it really is a case of tight player at the right time.
Compare Amarteys defending to Morgan and Huth in their prime and he’s hopeless. Ask him to be the main man in a back 4 designed to invite the opposition on and head everything away and he’s poor.
Ask him to play in a back line that’s expected to put their foot on the ball and play it out for a team on the front foot, and hey presto.
That’s why I think Perez isn’t a bad player. His strengths just don’t suit any of the ways we play, abs therefore he’s hugely frustrating for us.
posted on 29/12/20
I think Perez benefits from having a striker he can play off, and that’s not Vardy. Too often last season, he struggled with playing with his back to goal. I don’t think position is the issue with him nearly so much as learning to play on the half-turn. (To borrow a popular phrase.)
posted on 29/12/20
“We can probably add Matty James to the list as well, but that might be a given.“
———————
Yes it is
posted on 29/12/20
Gray - we know he’s off once his contracts up
Iheanacho - went through a really good spell last year where he looked like he had really improved but so many times this season looked useless
Perez - I don’t think he’s played three good games in a row yet, cost a lot of money and is adaptable so he’ll stay
Amartey - good utility player who can cover positions.
Choudhury - not the biggest fan, think he’s regressed after looking promising. Not a bad 6th choice midfielder though
Slimani - off end of season on free
Problem with most of them are they are all just back ups , you’re not gonna get a quality player who’s gonna be 6th choice midfielder for example. In the strikers case we’re not gonna get an absolute top quality striker who is gonna be happy sitting on the bench until Vardy retires